Sporty!

About half my time at the paper in Danville is dedicated to covering prep sports, and this county has excellent high school teams. Gretna's varsity football team won the state championship, Dan River High School made it to the championship basketball game for their conference (but sadly lost), and Chatham baseball and Tunstall softball will be competing in regional playoffs this weekend. By sheer volume of sports assignments, I have really come to enjoy sports I have never paid attention to before, and I enjoy the colorful nature of all sports, and the challenge of freezing such velocity. Most of my joints aren't as enthusiastic about it, but whatever :)

Dan River High School varsity basketball coach Jacob Gruse celebrates after the Wildcats sank two foul shots in a close game in the semifinals.

Jeff Gordon's no. 24 car peals out of his pit stop during the final laps of the Goody's QuikPak 500 race at Martinsville Speedway.

Aaron Burton (center), no. 5 for Patrick Henry High School, looks over his shoulder to try and avoid being tagged out by Travis Coates (right), no. 12 for George Washington High School, and James Feldmann, no. 11.

Kevin Harvick smiles as he is showered with colorful drinks after winning the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

The state and national flags are presented by an honor guard at Martinsville Speedway.

Brent Shelton, no. 9 for Chatham High School, slides home during the playoff game against Northumberland High School on Tuesday, June 2.